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The difference of spatial-temporal system between America and China America and China have different time orientation and space connotation. Different spatial- temporal systems will lead to misunderstanding and culture conflict; therefore to understand the differences is very important to intercultural communication. 2. 1 The difference about time The difference about psychological time: it refers to how much attention people have paid to the past, the present and the future.
Based on this understanding, psychological time has three kinds of orientation: past, present and future. As far as Chinese culture is concerned, the psychological time give priority to past orientation. Chinese value their past, it is reflected in all aspects of life, such as, much of the city’s ancient buildings, respect the old man, and so on. And the characteristics of American culture orientate to the future. The difference about informal time: The informal time rule is not learned but works through people’s subconscious.
For example, we made the reaction on time deeply rooted in our culture. All cultures believe that their time system is the best, so misunderstanding is inevitable. In United States, as is known to all, boss can be late to the meeting, but the secretarial will suffer severe blame. The doctor can be late for a long time while the nurse can’t. In China, being on time is important in formal occasion, but if you can, the earlier the better, it is viewed as a kind of respect. In informal occasions, China and the United States have different attitude about the time.
In china, arrive early shows respect to the host while Americans are not used to see the guests arrival in advance. The differences between Mono-chronic Time and Poly-chronic Time: The comparison between Mono-chronic Time people and Poly-chronic Time people M-people 1. Do one thing at a time 2. Concentrate on work 3. Be punctual (deadline, schedule) 4. Less talking, more information needed 5. Commit to work 6. Comply with plan 7. Do not bother others, respect privacy 8. Respect private property, few borrow 9. Emphasize on promptness 10. Be used to short-term relation P-people 1. O many things at a time 2. Easily distracted, easy to be interrupted 3. Don’t keep time, achieve purpose 4. More talking, enough information 5. Commit to interpersonal relationship . Easily change plan 7. Concern relatives, disrespect privacy 8. Easy to Dowry money or else 9. Base promptness on relationship 10. Have trend for long-term relationship From above we know that American culture is M-culture. As Hall says, the western especially the Americans believe time is fixed, is something around us that is inescapable or a part of the environment, like air. Hall, 1959) For example: in social activities, westerners believe that making appointment is a good manner. Americans are against to be notified in the last seconds. If the Americans were invited to a party t the last moment, they will consider it is insincere, they are Just substitutes. So they usually will not accept the invitation no matter how attractive it is. To visit others without an appointment also is impolite unless emergency, because you may disrupt others’ schedule. People with this time orientation don’t like to be interrupted.
People with P-culture can do lots of things and contact with many people at a time. They often break appointments which make Americans puzzled. For example: in traditional Chinese culture, people often say: come to visit my house if available, which nears hey welcome the friends’ visit anytime. In addition, the feature of China’s P-time system is many things happening at the same time, they do not stick to plan but emphasize on change. For example, two poly-chronic time Chinese would rather late for next date but terminate their conversation before its finished. 2. The difference about space system between America and China Different attitudes about space reflect different values and thinking mode. As the main part of non-verbal communication, space refers to the communication between interpersonal distance and the spatial position. Fronts (1968) defines it as communication by constructing the micro space, that is, people consciously keep the distance when they are communicating with others. 2. 2. 1. Distance Distance has different connotations in different cultures. Therefore acceptable space distance changes as culture changes.
American anthropologist, Dry Edward J Hall, divides the distance between humans into intimate distance, in which communicators have very close relationship, as husband and wife, lovers, mother and son, who keep distance from body contact to 18 inches; Personal distance, refers to neural relationships as acquaintance, friends, colleagues, their body distance range from eighteen inches to four feet; Social distance, refers to the distance between strangers in general social occasions , the distance range from 4 to 12 feet; The public distance, such as in public lecture hall and class, the distance range from twelve feet to any audible distance. There is certain relation between interpersonal psychological distance and physical distance, so it is an effective method to improve the people’s psychological distance by adjusting the physical distance. Hall described he boundaries to above four distances. Intimate distance: (1) blurred vision (2) can embrace the other one (3) can see many details (4) look through each other (6) easy to smell each other or can feel the heart beat.
Personal distance: (1) keep privacy (2) the relation is close (3) can talk about personal things. Social distance: together with the people they don’t know, keep their social distance, for example: colleagues. The public distance: not very close to each other; easy to go away if necessary; to speak not snout. Generally speaking, In puddle scallion, ten Americans don’t want to De lose to others, because it made them very uncomfortable, neither do they want to keep too far, they may feel very embarrassed. Chinese do not have mature results about the boundaries of four distances. But researches show that, other than similar boundaries in public distance and intimate distance with Americans’, the other two are significantly different.
Both Chinese personal distance and social distance are very close, people almost smell each other. So it is easily attacked by each other’s saliva. In order to avoid such scenes, some Chinese coversheet mouth by hand but expand the stance between them, such an action often makes the Americans misunderstood and disgust. In order to avoid misunderstanding, foreign language learners should pay attention to the use of nonverbal behavior in intercultural communication. 2. 2. Space Spaciousness, crowd, space violence and space respect have different connotations in different cultures. Our attitude to space reflects our attitude to privacy. Americans, who advocate individualism, put personal space and privacy in the first place.
They respect other people’s privacy, try to avoid infringed. So, the Americans give their children separate bedroom to protect their privacy. Even parent’s need to knock for their children’s permission before entering the room. However, in China, parent’s entering children’s room without knocking. Chinese parent’s don’t think this is infringement, instead they think it’s their right. Obviously, Americans ask for more private space than Chinese, for example: when waiting in line, Americans keep a certain distance from each other while Chinese are close to each other. Americans are so sensitive to other’s space that they would say sorry if keep 5-11 inches apart to other people.
The usage of space is most important element in American culture. Our efferent experiences and cultural traditions determine different space attitude. Americans’ straightforward, privacy respected has something to do with their national geographic characteristics. In China, we have large population density and crowded housing conditions. In this condition, it is difficult to provide your child with independent room and privacy protection become impossible. In addition, when space and privacy are infringed, different attitude also lead to different spatial- temporal system. Individualistic Americans are likely to take a positive attitude, and collective Chinese will take passive backward attitude.